Court OKs Fremont Immigration Vote

Measure Would Ban Hiring, Renting To Illegal Immigrants

Residents in Fremont will get to vote on a controversial proposal that bans businesses from hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants.

The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling that there was no authority to stop the election.

The issue has generated strong opinions among many of the city's 25,000 residents.

"I'm for immigrants coming in, but they ought to do it the legal way," said Alberta Risch. "Not sneak over and raise havoc on our cities."

"It's a federal issue. It's a rights issue," said Brian Jones.

The election will take place in either July or August, officials said.

"The people in town ought to have a vote, have a say," said Jerry Hart, who helped organize the petition drive to put the issue on the ballot.

The measure is similar to an ordinance that the city council and mayor narrowly rejected in 2008.

"We're just trying to do something to ease the problem," Hart said.

Gerardo Flores said most businesses already do checks to make sure workers are legal. He said he disagrees with the housing ban.

"To say you can't rent to them and all that stuff, it's just not right," Flores said.

Courts in Texas and Pennsylvania have struck down similar housing bans. That's why city officials said they wanted the Nebraska Supreme Court to stop the election and prevent legal battles that could be expensive for taxpayers.

"The city can't afford that," Jones said.

Flores said the issue also has an ugly tone to it. He said he is legal, but has had his citizenship questioned because of his looks.

"There have been times when I have, yes," he said.

Supporters of the measure said it's a legal issue, not one of ethnicity.

"If they're legal, fine," said Jerald Flagle. "If they're not, the businesses and the landlords should be fined for having them."

Petition organizers said a number of other communities across the country are watching to see what happens in Fremont and may introduce similar laws.

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